Plant diversity assessment of karst limestone, a case study of Malaysia’s Batu Caves

Abstract

Batu Caves hill is typical of karst hills in Peninsular Malaysia due to its small size and high biodiversity. It harbours 366 vascular plant species that represent about 25% of the Peninsula’s limestone flora. Five species are endemic to Batu Caves and 23 are threatened species. This high biodiversity is the result of many microhabitats, each with their own assemblages of species. Threats are especially severe as the area of Batu Caves is surrounded by urbanisation that encroaches to the foot of cliffs, is vulnerable to fire, habitat disturbance and, formerly, by quarrying. Assigning a Conservation Importance Score (CIS) to all species is quantitative and accurate, can be implemented rapidly and produces reproducible results. Species with highest CIS are native species of primary vegetation, restricted to limestone substrates, endangered conservation status and, in this case, endemic to Batu Caves. It allows not only species, but microhabitats, sites within a hill and different hills to be compared. By identifying and surveying all microhabitats and focusing on locating endemic and threatened species, maximum biodiversity can be captured. Of the 16 microhabitats identified, the most threatened were the buffer zone, lower levels of steep earth-covered slopes and cave entrances. Application of this method provides a scientific basis for balancing the need to protect microhabitats and sites with the highest CIS, with their multiple uses by various stakeholders, which, at Batu Caves, include the activities of cave temples and eco-recreation. It also provides a scientific quantitative method to compare hills to ensure that those hills with highest CIS are not released for mining.

De novo genome assembly and genome skims reveal LTRs dominate the genome of a limestone endemic Mountainsnail (Oreohelix idahoensis)

“…Balancing the societal needs for carbonate rock and habitat requirements of calcareous rock endemic species can be particularly challenging as there may be little middle ground between economic interests and biodiversity preservation. While there is growing global interest to safeguard calcareous rock endemic diversity [ 4 ], government and private quarrying has already caused the extinction of more than 20 calcareous rock endemic species with more likely to follow [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Asia-Pacific roadmap for primary forest conservation

“…Although some of the most unusual vegetation types and plant species are found on these limestone formations (Kiew and Rahman 2021), the plant species associations they host are poorly known, often due to the difficulty of accessing cliffs. Dipterocarpaceae was reported only as the ninth most common family in limestone sites in Sabah (Kiew 1990(Kiew , 2001, potentially because they were subjected to heavy logging in some places (Whitmore 1998).…”

Comprehensive Study on Limestone Weathering Grade and Risk Potential in Batu Cave, Malaysia.

“…In addition, the story does not end with construction; ongoing weathering, influenced by the new environment to which the rock mass is exposed, may continue after construction (Durgin, 2020). Researchers, engineers, and geologists have attempted to address this complexity, resulting in classifications and guidelines encapsulated in various codes and documents, such as those by the International Society and Engineering Group of the Geological Society for Rock Mechanics Conservancy in Batu Caves (Kiew et al, 2023). In this paper, various aspects of weathering classification guidelines and their profound engineering implications were thoroughly examined.…”